QUINCY — The FBI executed a search warrant Monday morning at a storage facility here, and hazardous evidence specialists were on the property, authorities said. But the reason for the search was unclear, as officials declined to discuss the investigation.
Kristen Setera, an FBI spokeswoman, confirmed around 11:15 a.m. that the bureau and its law enforcement partners were conducting “court-authorized activity in connection with an ongoing federal investigation.”
She declined to identify the reason for the probe but said that a Hazardous Evidence Response Team had responded to the scene. Around 4:30 Monday afternoon, Setera confirmed that officials from the FBI, Boston fire, and other agencies remained at the facility and said they would be wrapping up their work there shortly.
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“Because of the ongoing nature [of the investigation], we’re not going to be able to add anything,” Setera said, adding, “There’s certainly no threat to public safety.”
A spokeswoman for the US attorney for Massachusetts declined to comment.
A Quincy police spokesman confirmed agents were searching the facility at 27 Liberty St. but referred further questions to the bureau. Hazardous materials teams from the Quincy and Boston fire departments were on scene.
John Coveney, who lives near the facility, said he first noticed law enforcement at the business around 8 a.m. By noon, he said, passers-by were asking whether he knew what was happening, but he had no answers.
“They keep asking,” Coveney said. “But there’s really not a whole lot that I can give.”
Anita Harris of Braintree said she stopped by the facility, the beige-colored Extra Space Storage, to drop off some clothing, but her sister called and said she’d seen news reports of law enforcement and a hazmat team searching the facility.
Harris said she didn’t even try to enter the building when she pulled up shortly after noon Monday and saw the flurry of law enforcement activity. She’d have to come back with her clothing another day, she said.
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“Today is not the day, as far as I’m concerned,” Harris said. “The fact that all these people are out here, I would say that God has convinced me today is not the day.”
A woman who answered the phone at Extra Space Storage said she had no information about the law enforcement activity.
Shortly before 2:30 p.m., a group of investigators, including one in a hazmat suit, gathered in the loading dock of the facility behind a trailer attached to a pickup truck. It wasn’t immediately clear what they were doing.
Travis Andersen can be reached at travis.andersen@globe.com. Gal Tziperman Lotan is a former Globe staff member.